Craftsy Changes…

I’m still overwhelmed, and while many may have heard what Craftsy has chosen to do with there designers in the pattern area I never thought the changes would be so drastic as I found out today when 622 of my patterns were deleted.

Basically, a week ago, all the designers received emails that Craftsy would be changing things, that those who were chosen were deemed a “Top Designer” and would get to stay with Craftsy. Yes, Craftsy is my main selling shop and I love selling there, but it’s not like I was making a fortune either or even a small fortune for that matter. While I do get to stay many designers lost their shops altogether. We don’t know what the criteria was in order to stay or be removed, nor were we told how drastic the deletion of our patterns would be except that they would be reducing the number of patterns. I am lucky, I do have most of my patterns on Payhip, but the double commissions at Payhip are a killer. So I’ve dropped everything to work on the cart I set aside last year and get a cart working on my site.

I was away this week so while I have been online and working I was still visiting with my sister. My niece got engaged on Christmas day to her longtime boyfriend and it was a nice Christmas when all said and done.

Designers are not the only ones who are affected by the changes. However, while you as a customer can still download your patterns your pattern library looks very different now than it did yesterday.

Yesterday, you could still see a picture of the item, and it gave a title, but this is no longer the case.

This is how your Craftsy pattern library looks now.

No pictures, no titles of the pattern. When you click where the image should be, it will download the pattern, but you have no idea what pattern you’re even getting, so it’s a bit of a guessing game.

However, you can search still by the designer’s name. There are two ways to achieve this:

you can type in the name of the designer or their business name or

Go to the Filter By section and look under the Store Name. The cool thing about this is that they even tell you how many patterns you have purchased or received freely from that designer.

This makes it a little easier for you to find patterns from certain designers.

In the meantime, your favorite designers won’t be able to upload new patterns to Craftsy’s pattern areas, you’ll have to visit their sites or other shops to download their patterns. Craftsy won’t give us a date, they are simply saying sometime in later 2019. I think by that time many designers will have moved on to different sites that offer patterns.

I can promise you these changes have greatly stressed every designer affected by these changes. Many including myself are scrambling to get another option in place. For me, I still want to release a Sue/Sam next week and I have a new cupcake pattern. At the moment they will go up on Payhip only. I have not given up on Craftsy, and probably won’t, but I am dismayed over the changes at the moment and I do wonder what changes are in store for all of us.

In the meantime, I hope you all have a wonderful and blessed New Year. As 2019 approaches next Tuesday, I am reminded of all the blessings I do have. I have my family, my friends, and you, those of you who visit me here at my blog and therefore I am hoping for you a wonderful year of treasures and happiness to be fulfilled in your own lives.

I am an affiliate of the above companies when you click one of these links and purchase something, I earn a little bit of a commission with it. I use this money to help maintain my website and offer my free patterns to you. Every little bit helps, thank you so much for clicking and for your support. I don’t just offer up these brands to you I actually use their products and shop at these places. I would never partner with someone whose products I didn’t use.

Please remember it takes 2 minutes to comment, please say Thank You, whether you downloaded a free pattern, read a tutorial, or just learned something new. It takes time for people to write a post, take pictures, make a project or even write a pattern.
Let them know you appreciate it.

If your comment doesn’t show up after you post it, it’s most likely gone to the spam folder. I will see it and approve it, unfortunately, it just means something about your email address caught my spam filter’s eye.

Hi, I’m new here but wanted to ask, have any of you found another place to showcase your patterns? I am curious because I have a brick-and-mortar sewing/crafting studio, and I’m seriously considering hosting pattern pdf’s at some point. I’d love to see what’s out there.

Here’s some food for thought for all of us who’s Craftsy stores were closed. They have deleted us from their servers but they still have control over our patterns we have sold to their customers. That really does not seem right! They closed my store yet customers who purchased my patterns can still download them as many times as they wish.

Ms. P Designs USA is in the same boat, we are now down to three random patterns on Craftsy as well AND we were also considered to be one of the “top” designers whatever that means! (Obviously, it means that they don’t care about us at all!)

That is heartbreaking, but glad you have another source for your patterns. I also lost 85% of my patterns, and have several on my Etsy store, but it will take time to move them all over. Craftsy was the main source of my online income for years and years – since they offered the opportunity to upload patterns in Feb of 2012. Luckily, they retained a record of all sales and emails associated with those sales. I think that will be invaluable. But this change is causing me to reevaluate my goals, so I guess that is a good thing. Best to you in 2019!

So sorry to hear that this happened. But I am not surprised, I left Craftsy when few years ago they had that whole thing about Europe taxes and the way they just didn’t want to support the designer figure out the changes. I emailed them several times and got the feeling that they just didn’t care about helping out, so I have been avoiding them ever since.
They are a company, so that’s one way of running a company I guess. What I didn’t like is the crazy timelines they always have: they announce those major changes always around the holidays with few weeks for people to figure out what to do. This is just an approach that I cannot get behind. That is always good to keep good records of all the people that buy your products and are your true fans, so that you can contact them privately via email and take them with you wherever you end up setting up shop!
When I had to pick a new place for my patterns I picked Meylah. I don’t know about the difference between this marketplace and others. I don’t sell much, and I don’t store many patterns either… however it’s very easy to set up, and they get a commission on each sale (plus there is a paypal commission). I only use that to have a base for my non-free patterns, so I am not sure if that is a good platform to find new artists (like etsy) but I wanted to share my experience. Feel free to reach out to me if you have any question.

Since I’m one of the little guys, all of my patterns were deleted. I feel that Craftsy used designers to acquire customers and then when they got “big” decided we were no longer needed. Not a good feeling. Since they don’t need my patterns, I guess they don’t need my money either. They have lost my business. I will be putting the deleted patterns plus new patterns on my website, hoping my customers can find me there.

Obviously, Craftsy wasn’t thinking of all the people they were screwing over when they made these decisions. If I was a designer, even if they “allowed” me to stay, I think I’d remove all my patterns and tell them to go pound salt! What they did was not right – morally or fiscally. This type of thing always seems to happen when a small company is bought out…the bigger company doesn’t think of the people. They’re only concerned with how much money they can put in their own pockets. I, personally, find it disgusting. I feel so bad for all the designers. It’s as if all their hard work was just thrown out like trash. NOT the right way to run a company!!!

This is horrible everywhere I hear of it. As I told you, I’m no longer a customer of Craftsy. If it’s necessary to charge more for the patterns, I don’t think most of us are going to quibble at offsetting the site charges. I used to have an Etsy business, and it was a small fee, I don’t know what Payhip is. I hope you find something that works for you. I know many people will follow to your site, wherever it is, to buy the patterns.

Marian, so sorry you’re dealing with so much loss. I see they left you 2 patterns in your store. I’ve got 1 left in mine. And most the ones I’ve both purchased and collected free are downloadable but the images are gone. I’m going to spend the time to download everything, asap, to insure I have it. I thought it was too good to be true when they didn’t take anything from a sale. Oh well, can’t fight it.

Wow, Marian, I’m so sorry to hear you lost that many patterns! It would be nice if they would just come out and SAY what they are doing instead of being so secretive to the designers. I hope you find a good platform for all your patterns. I’m sure they must be moving to a fee based system for designers – at least that’s what I feel is happening.

Someone should write up a detailed report on what Craftsy has done since it was purchased by NBC and have it included in a business class on how to destroy a business in less than a year. I’m only a consumer of the patterns and classes on Craftsy and I will not be buying another pattern from Craftsy ever and I will only go there to see the classes I have already purchased…not one more penny to Craftsy. I’ll use blogs, youtube and my own imagination from now on. Craftsy didn’t just burn the bridge, they blew it up!

NBC bought Craftsy so do not expect much, I don’t think that non quilters should be able to own quilter related sites. Just my thought. Sad state today I do hope someone can create a site similar but better than Craftsy ever was. Sorry it has happened. Shakes my head at the rich stupid investors at NBC,.

I am angry about this. The fact tat they just up and deleted many of the designers is sickening. And then to just delete many of the patterns of the designers they kept. Just what do they think they are doing? Things began to get worse after Craftsy was sold. No positive changes, only changes for the worse. The model it had before was perfect for both designers and customers.

Thank you for showing us how we will still be able to get our patterns. I highly doubt Craftsy will continue to exist (at least for long) based on the way they have handled the latest change which affects not just the designers, but the rest of us too. I sincerely hope you and other designers find a good or better way to offer your patterns.

I am dismayed by what is happening to all the designers at Craftsy. I used to like the site, but now I don’t much care for it. Thank you for all the work you continue to do for us. It is much appreciated.
May you have a blessed New Year.

I too am shocked by Craftsy. It seems to be a bad move on their part and as for me…..I don’t feel I need them anymore. I will continue to support the designers. Thank you for all you have done and are doing for all of us.

I have already given my views to Craftsy & received a very vanilla generic response that they are just working to make it better..Huh! Craftsy was great for finding new designers I didn’t know about; it is much harder when you have to find individual websites. I may rag on them again…

This is such a terrible situation. I’m really distressed at the way Craftsy is treating its designers. I’d planned on requesting Craftsy gift certificates for Christmas, in order to purchase fabric, patterns, and classes during the year, but after hearing what they had warned the independent designers was coming, I changed my mind and I am so glad I did. This is despicable.
I’m sorry for the stress you’re experiencing over this. Congratulations, though, for the engagement in your family–always good to have something to celebrate as a new year dawns.

Customers got absolutely no notice from Craftsy about the planned changes. Thank you and the other designers so much for the heads-up. I managed to get all my patterns (with photos) saved to my computer. There were still patterns and classes that I would still have liked to have purchased but some are no longer available. I am also afraid of putting money into more classes. I have a feeling that if they don’t make positive changes, that they will be out of business soon. Thanks for all you’ve done for us.

Sorry this is happening. Thanks for infotus-I was able to download my patterns. Had already decided against paid subscription, so no reason to go back to Craftsy! I found you thru them, glad for that! Happy New Year and thanks for sharing your talent with us!

This reminds me of when Fabric.com was purchased by Amazon. It went from a friendly home business to a big, not friendly store with few discounts and prices up. Guess When NBC bought out Craftsy, this is the result…guess there will be a wait and see attitude. I never buy from Fabric.com any more..Please let that not happen to Craftsy!!!

This is sad to hear about craftsy! I think that was not a very wise business move on their part but am glad you were able to remain on there. Hope you have a wonderful new year! Oh and btw are you going to do a post as last year about block of the months that are running through 2019? I enjoyed seeing all those!

Whoever took this idea and ran with it, should be fired. Craftsy and done a great diservice to their designers. If they needed more room, they should buy more servers. it is too bad the designers can’t make their own place. 😉

Thank you for all your hard work!
What Craftsy is doing is bad business to me. I could see if they were shutting down and regrouping but to give you such a short notice and not even one where you know what is coming, is wrong and bad business. Like was posted earlier, maybe they are wanting shops to leave on their own so they don’t have to get rid of them themselves. They seem to be acting like a company that doesn’t have the “legal right” to fire you, so they just make it so miserable you leave on your own. Not good for a company …..

I have the impression they would like to get rid of all the stores. I was among the “top designers” as well, and they removed all but two of my patterns, and the two that remain seem a very random choice. It seems like they want us to throw in the towel and quit.

We couldn’t really expect Craftsy to stay free forever, and I wouldn’t have minded to pay a small percentage of every sale to them for their service but the way they handled this is just ridiculous. They must have known that everybody, designers and customers, would be really upset, and I can’t shake the feeling that they did this on purpose. Carol’s comment about how she was referred to Etsy seems to support this.

I wish I had the time and money and know how to start a new website like Craftsy. The demand is definitely there, and it could probably be financed by running craft-related ads. I am keeping my fingers crossed that someone else will jump in and do it. We will just have to keep our eyes open and let each other know if and when this happens.

So sorry to hear how you were impacted bu the new Craftsy business model. I follow many craft bloggers and they have all experienced the same frustration-short notice, no logical process and not a lot of feasible options for designers. I hope it all works out for you. You and the other craft designers have been so generous and do not deserve the treatment you have received. I hope that that a wonderful new opportunity presents itself soon.

What a great loss to all the designers and their clients. For a business to behave in such a cavalier way is totally disgusting !!! I am so sorry so many of the designers I follow were treated in such an unprofessional manner.

My experience is the same, I still have my pattern store as a “top designer” (whatever THAT means) but 75% of my patterns are gone. No where near the number you lost though, I cannot imagine the work to relist that many elsewhere. I’ll be putting mine in my Etsy store for now, but as you said, the other platforms are more expensive in fees. I think Craftsy is moving to a paid fee service for designers too, so what we have left will eventually not be free to list or sell.

Thank you for explaining what is happening at Craftsy. I am shocked by how they handled it, very unprofessional but then state they want to give more support.
Haapy New Year to you and I pray that a more satisfying solution for you arises!

I’m so sorry Marian. Craftsy left me with three patterns and they weren’t even the mst requested ones. Crazy! I deleted those three patterns and “chatted” with Craftsy about being unhappy with how this went down. “Lizzy” told me “we are hoping to make more of a curated marketplace where our designers are receiving better support from us. For now, it will still be free.” She also said, “ If you are interested in selling your patterns elsewhere online, there are some great options for that! We recommend Etsy.” I was shocked at the flippant way I was referred to use Etsy.

And no proper explanation or reasons why they are changing things and simply deleting certain patterns, or even removing some designers? That doesn’t make sense at all 🙁 . From a customer side things do not look much different. My patterns library is still showing the photos of the downloads and not just a blank space with an arrow in it, not sure why it is different to what you see

Marian, thank you for shedding some light on what is going to happen and how the changes will look. I am not a big crafty user, but occasionally.
wishing you a positive outcome from this difficulty, and a 2019 filled with peace joy, and love.

What a rotten way to treat designers. I am apalled at the changes and deletion of so many designers and patterns. What on earth were the people at Craftsy thinking? I hope you manage to get something sorted out Marian. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for all the wonderful patterns you have shared so generously in the past, and to wish you a prosperous and Happy New Year xx

I’m sorry for you and all other designers that are ‘hit’ by all the changes Craftsy has made. I think it isn’t a real smart move for them to get rid of so many designers and patterns. I found and bought lots of patterns but I’m not really interested in courses or supplies (shipping costst are huge for Europe).
Wish you all the best and hope you’ll get an alternative in place soon.

Thank you for a well stated post. What a bad time to inform the designers. I appreciated having some designers send emails telling what they knew ‘cuz Craftsy never thought to tell the customers.
As you say, a new year is coming and hopefully we all have a great 2019.

Just incredible! Disgusting the way Craftsy has decided to treat its customers and its designers. Very bad business sense. It’s a move that is planned to lose as many as possible on both ends…who wants to go near them now? They would have been better off to introduce incremental changes, not broad sweeps. Sad…